Motorists in Cedar Springs and across Kent County will soon have a smoother drive, thanks to an emergency road funding measure by the state legislature Wednesday.

According to 74th District State Rep. Rob VerHeulen, the legislature approved an additional $215 million statewide for roads, including $115 million for priority projects and $100 million to assist with maintenance needed due to the harsh winter.

The money for the local municipalities comes from the $100 million appropriation; the priority projects to be funded with the $115 million are yet to be determined. Municipalities will automatically get a percentage of the $100 million for winter road repairs, but will have to apply for money for priority projects.

“The additional funding is much needed to combat the brutal winter we experienced this year and to start to reverse the toll it took on Michigan’s roadways,” said VerHeulen, R-Walker. “The investment in local roads will help to limit the expenses associated with car repairs due to poor road conditions.”

According to VerHeulen’s office, the additional $100 million is to be used for special winter maintenance only and will be distributed based on the Act 51 funding formula (39.1 percent to MDOT, 39.1 percent to county road commissions, and 21.8 percent to cities and villages). Using this formula, the money will be distributed to each local road agency based on the local road agency’s Act 51 appropriation in the last fiscal year (the most recent year with full distribution amounts available). These additional funds are restricted for maintenance purposes (snow removal, pothole filling, crack and chip sealing, etc.) and may not be used to cover administrative, overhead, or other indirect costs.

Cedar Springs will receive $13,344; Sparta $15,633; Kent City $4,803; and Rockford $20,268. Two other cities in the 74th District—Grandville and Walker—will receive $61,218 and $102,275 respectively. Kent County will receive nearly $1.9 million in road maintenance funds.

“The emergency funding is only a start toward addressing the greater issue of deteriorating roads and bridges,” said VerHeulen, who serves on the House subcommittee Appropriations Transportation. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to find a long-term, sustainable solution to our roadway issues.”